What may be causing this
- Frontal lobe involvement
- Depression
- Sedating medications
- Fear of failing at a task
What to try first
- Start the activity yourself and invite them in
- Break tasks into single steps
- Use familiar lifelong interests
- Keep sessions short and end on success
What usually makes it worse
- Asking 'what do you want to do?'
- Nagging or guilt
- Large unstructured blocks of time
Simple things you can do today
- Plan two short activities at the person's best time of day
- Add music from their young adulthood
- Try a simple outdoor errand together
When to call the doctor
- Apathy appeared suddenly
- Sadness, tearfulness, or appetite change suggests depression
- Sedating medications may be contributing
When it may be an emergency
- Threats or acts of violence toward self or others
- Sudden confusion, weakness, slurred speech, or facial droop
- A fall with head injury, especially on a blood thinner
Related resources
Medically reviewed. Last reviewed August 2026. This page is educational information, not individualized medical advice.